BCG worked with Decathlon to embed accessibility, sustainability, profit and growth into a circularity model that forms the heart of Decathlon’s strategy to be the world’s largest lowest impact sports retail company.
BCG’s Value-Based Approach to Sustainable Operations
Many companies are setting emissions goals or net zero targets and increasing operational sustainability to achieve them. Getting on the path to achieve emissions targets enables organizations to stay ahead of new regulations, maintain access to investors’ capital, and retain and attract top talent. Following that path can also bring financial benefits—savings from operational efficiency, revenue growth from market expansion, and new revenue streams—all of which help to offset the costs of working with suppliers to address Scope 3 emissions.
Together with Quantis and Inverto, BCG works with companies to achieve emissions and net zero targets so they can stay ahead of a changing regulatory landscape, sure up access to key talent and materials, and drive lasting competitive advantage.
Here are just some of the ways we help clients unlock new value from sustainable operations:
Sustainable Manufacturing
Although most companies have set ambitious Scope 1 and 2 reduction targets and are committed to achieving them, concerns about incurring higher costs pose a major obstacle. We help companies
decarbonize operations while improving efficiency so they not only lower emissions but also realize financial value and reduce risks. For example, by switching to renewable energy, clients can reduce their carbon footprint and insulate themselves from oil price fluctuations.
Sustainable Supply Chains and Procurement
For most large companies, greenhouse gas emissions from the supply chain—Scope 3 emissions—make up the largest share of their total carbon footprint. Addressing these emissions isn't just about environmental impact; it's a powerful lever for value creation. We help clients optimize for carbon reductions in their supply chain networks to cut costs alongside emissions. We help them segment suppliers and engage with them to achieve the most impact—from assisting them in setting new sustainable procurement standards to incentivizing decarbonization. Our experts in sustainable procurement and sustainable supply chain consulting ensure that companies have a solid sustainable supply chain strategy in place to create lasting value and impact.
Circular Economy
By transitioning to the circular economy, companies can help unlock $4.5 trillion of GDP growth worldwide by 2030. This paradigm of production and consumption will generate jobs, improve the quality of life, reduce waste, and create growth opportunities for the private sector. BCG helps clients shift away from the traditional take-make-dispose model and envision a new one that is regenerative by design.
Design to Sustainable Value
Design to Sustainable Value can enable companies to address key challenges in today's turbulent environment: eroding market share for incumbent brands, diminished profit margins, rising regulatory pressure, and evolving consumer and customer expectations. By reimagining products to optimize for cost, consumer needs, and sustainability, clients can grow market share, protect margins of core products, create agile teams, and meet regulatory and corporate sustainability targets.
Our Clients’ Success in Sustainable Operations
Video
May 2, 2025
Video
April 2, 2025
What happened when Sysco chose to ramp up its sustainability efforts? It created powerful opportunities for cost cutting and growth—for both the company and its clients.
Video
March 4, 2025
BCG partnered with the Casillo Group to build a brand and business model for a breakthrough food product that’s good for us, good for the planet, and good for business.
Video
August 28, 2023
Alberto Milvio, former CFO of Autostrade per l’Italia Group, and Concetta Testa, head of sustainability, share how the company is working to realize sustainable infrastructure.
Video
June 22, 2023
North America's largest tire distributor aimed to stop the wasteful disposal of used tires—and became a transformative model of circularity. Hear from ATD leaders about their partnership with BCG.
Our Sustainable Operations Partnerships and Products
We work with a diverse set of high-impact partners across global policymaking bodies, conveners, standard setters, innovators, and sector-specific organizations to drive climate and sustainability outcomes. Our collaborations span strategic advisory, coalition building, clean tech financing, emissions reduction programs, risk mitigation, adaptation planning, and more—partnering with groups such as the
COP Presidencies,
World Economic Forum, Breakthrough Energy, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and Science Based Targets Network, among many others, to drive tangible societal and planetary impact.
CO2 AI
Part of our partner ecosystem, CO2 AI enables organizations to measure, simulate, reduce, and track their environmental footprint at scale.
CO2 AI
Circelligence by BCG
Circelligence calculates a company's circularity, helping clients advance sustainability and maximize value with fewer raw materials.
Circelligence by BCG
OpenSC
A traceability platform, OpenSC verifies claims about sustainable supply chains and responsible production automatically, continuously, and with the backing of granular and immutable data.
OpenSC
Supply Chain Net Zero Academy
BCG’s best-in-class sustainability learning platform upskills suppliers and procurement teams so they can accelerate Scope 3 decarbonization and their journey to net zero.
Supply Chain Net Zero Academy
Our Insights on Sustainable Operations
Article
May 13, 2025
Consumers are showing a growing interest in foods that are better for their health, and this realization is starting to be reflected in sales.
Article
May 1, 2025
As they face unprecedented volatility in global agrifood supply chains, decision makers can act today to build long-term resilience and competitive advantage.
Video
March 12, 2025
Long Live the Refurbished Phone
BCG’s Joseph Fitzgerald explains how telcos and retailers can drive growth in the expanding refurbished phone market and the sustainability benefits at stake.
Article
April 21, 2025
To thrive in uncertain times, packaging companies must remain flexible while investing in capabilities that will define future industry leadership.
Report
February 13, 2025
How can fashion brands drive adoption to unlock the benefits of next-gen materials? A report by Fashion for Good and BCG provides a blueprint.
Video
January 29, 2025
Making Sustainability Commercially Viable
Clariant’s Conrad Keijzer and Charlie Tan of Global Impact Coalition explain how bringing companies together uncovers business cases for sustainability that no one company could make alone.
Meet Some of Our Sustainable Operations Consulting Team
BCG’s sustainable operations consulting team has deep expertise in sustainable manufacturing, sustainable procurement strategy, ESG in procurement, ESG in supply chains, and more. Here are some of our experts in sustainable operations.
